Friends, family thankful for those who helped at scene of fatal hit-and-run

Friday

May 2, 2014 at 2:39 PMMay 2, 2014 at 2:44 PM

Matt Buedel Journal Star Caterpillar/industry reporter @journobuedel

PEORIA — Among the friends and family who turned out for Dan Cantrall’s visitation in Springfield this week were strangers who witnessed his last moments, those who came upon the motorcycle crash just north of Downtown early Sunday.

“The whole room was full,” said Toni Morrison, a close friend of Cantrall and his wife, who survived the crash. “You could tell that man was loved.”

But one person crucial to the events of that night — the man who followed the vehicle involved in the fatal crash after it sped away from the scene — was missing, and those who loved Cantrall want him to know their gratitude.

“We do not know who chased the guy down,” Morrison said. “We just want him to know how much his help means to us.”

Dan Cantrall, 57, and Jennifer Schmitt Cantrall, 56, were northbound about 12:45 a.m. Sunday in the 1800 block of North Knoxville Avenue when a southbound Cadillac collided with them.

It wasn’t clear in the immediate aftermath of the crash whether the other driver veered into oncoming traffic or unwittingly turned left in front of the motorcycle, but Dan Cantrall must have seen the headlights coming toward them. He had just enough time to slide the motorcycle down onto the pavement in an attempt to avoid a crash.

“He’d protect Jen from anything,” Morrison said. “He probably did lay the bike down to save Jen, and he took it all.”

One car stopped in the median to block traffic and protect the downed bikers from being hit by passing cars. A nurse stopped to help, and the man she was with apparently followed the vehicle involved in the crash, alerting police to the location of the other driver.

Officers stopped the car within moments and took Marlon A. Coleman, 39, of 132 Village Green Court into custody. He has been charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence and faces up to 14 years in prison.

Coleman has previously been convicted of two DUI charges and remains in custody at the Peoria County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bond.

Jennifer Cantrall was hospitalized until Monday night. The woman who Morrison said is more like a sister than just a friend is staying with her daughter while she recuperates and absorbs the loss of her husband.

“She’s just been so big-hearted about all this,” Morrison said. “She just wants to say, ‘Thanks.’ ”

Matt Buedel can be reached at 686-3154 or mbuedel@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @JournoBuedel.

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